Would you send your child to this nursery?

[morereadingplease]

I would really appreciate some help from other parents on this. I am a teacher and a mother of three. I absolutely love teaching.

I am considering opening a very small nursery school in Islington. The nursery will be run from my home (a large, Georgian terraced house with a big, safe garden). I plan to take six children for morning classes and six children for afternoon classes. They will have their own large, bright classroom as well as a well stocked library. I will provide access to the latest technology as well as more traditional forms of learning. I would really like to create a gentle home from home atmosphere, to introduce children to the idea of learning in a more structured way.

Would any of you consider sending your child to a nursery like this, or would the small class sizes put you off? I don't want to take too many children because I want to devote proper time and attention to each child.

Any feedback or advice gratefully received!

Sounds lovely. Will you make a profit running with 6FTE pupils? Have you looked into registration/ accreditation? Would you be happy to open your house to inspectors?

I would in a heartbeat. Except I'm nowhere near you!

What you describe sounds a little like this place. Might be worth a visit and or chat with the owner.

would you really be able to make a living? surely you would need a second adult in order for you to go to the loo/deal with an accident etc, so could you really make enough to pay 2 wages from 6 children? Lone childminders are only allowed 3 under 5s (or 4 if very experiances and necessary for continuity of care etc) - I think these figures are up to date.

tbh what you are proposing sounds more like a childminder than a nursery, so anyone who would be happy with a CM would probaby be happy with such a home from home environment.

They will have their own large, bright classroom as well as a well stocked library. I will provide access to the latest technology as well as more traditional forms of learning. I would really like to create a gentle home from home atmosphere, to introduce children to the idea of learning in a more structured way.
Doesn't really sound like you believe in learning through play. I'd avoid

No, you are only offering the same hours as a school nursery so noone that works can use you.

How would you survive on 15 hours funding from government?

Be a childminder with help.

You would have to charge a lot to make that work, I think. Too much like actual school for me I would say.

How will you turn a profit with 6kids?you sound like cm not nursery
I would need a ft nursery place mon- fri 8-6 not half day.will you offer ft
Really you're describing cm not nursery,but I expect it will be popular. Good luck

I think it sounds brilliant, but I'm not sure how you would make any money. Also isn't there something about pre-schools that do structured learning rather than learning through play not getting government funding? (or at least I remember it being mentioned whilst looking at a prep school for my daughter coz they were explaining that the pre-prep doesn't recieve any government funding)

Have you crunched the numbers?what will you charge s it profitable
you'd need 2staff if six kids, for adequate ratios
Why aren't you teaching if you love teaching?

It does sound very formal, and it doesn't sound much like what EYFS says should be happening - are you a primary teacher? Have you studied for pre-school education? Free learning through play, loosely structured activities, free flow inside and out, basic social skills etc are what I want from a preschool / nursery. It sounds very intense tbh and I think you would be better setting up as a childminder, less of a grand ambition (a library?? ) but probably more suited to you.

Depends on what you mean by structured- what does the routine of the day look like? How much choice do the children get in the participation of the activities? How much input do they have in the planning of them? Will the activities be related to their interests or will it be theme/subject based planning?

I think the OP has now shelved her dream and has taken a job in McDonalds.

Sorry to delay my thanks for all your input ladies. My mother died suddenly and I have been completely sidetracked. I will be putting this on hold while I deal with family stuff.